Contents

Overview

In 2011-2012, Creative Commons (CC) and other open organizations were contacted by multiple institutions and governments seeking assistance to develop materials and strategies for open policies. The need for open policy support was amplified at the CC 2011 Global Summit in Warsaw, Poland. CC Affiliates from 35 countries called for a central hub where open policies could be shared and discussed. They were clear: without clearly defined support, open policies are significantly less likely to be introduced and adopted. In October 2012 Creative Commons continued this exploration by convening a meeting of “open” leaders to brainstorm possibilities and challenges in developing resources and services to increase open policies.

As open advocates, organizations and policy makers recognize the potential for open policies to significantly increase the amount and quality of publicly funded education, research, data, and software, there is a pressing need to provide them support so they can successfully create, adopt and implement open policies. Open policies promote open licensing of resources financed through public funding in order to maximize the impact of the investment.

If we are going to unleash the power of hundreds of billions of dollars of publicly funded education, research, data, and software, we need broad adoption of open policies. For the purposes of open policies that contribute to the public good, we define policy broadly as legislation, institutional policies, and/or funder mandates.

We have observed that current open policy efforts are decentralized, uncoordinated and insular; there is poor and/or sporadic information sharing. There are at least two major barriers that have prevented broad open policy adoption. (1) There is limited support for open policy advocates, organizations and policy makers who want to create, adopt and implement open policies. (2) Existing policy makers need help in articulating and messaging how open policies can increase the impact of public investments.

The open community needs access to existing open policies, legislation, and action plans for how open policies were created, discussed and passed. Advocates need to know what barriers were encountered and how they were overcome, and because politics and opportunities are local, open advocates may need support customizing an open policy solution and strategy.

If we get this simple idea right, open sustainability could cease to be an issue because: (a) there is plenty of public funding to build and maintain all of the education, research, data, and software the world needs, and (b) “open” becomes the default and “closed” becomes the exception for publicly funded resources.

Description and rationale

Open policies promote access to, and open licensing of, resources financed through public funding. Open policies can maximize the impact of public investments in science, data, education, libraries, archives, museums, software and other resources through the efficient use and reuse of resources for the public good.

The Open Policy Network (OPN) supports the creation, adoption and implementation of open policies around the world. It does this by:

mapping the open policy space across open sectors;

identifying open policy gaps and opportunities within and across sectors;

communicating the social and economic value of open policy;

networking together those trying to develop open policies with organizations, communities and individuals who have open policy expertise; and

curating case studies and open policy exemplars for others to use or adapt.

In addition to supporting the creation, adoption and implementation of open policies, it is equally as important to support the updating of existing policy frameworks, so open policies can be effective and long-lasting. Existing policies need to be reviewed and modified as needed to support the implementation of open policies. For example, an open policy that leads to the creation of new open textbooks is less impactful if textbook procurement policies do not allow schools to adopt open textbooks.

Open policy advocates need to present a coordinated case to policymakers that 21st century legal and technical tools can be used to significantly improve the effectiveness of investments in publicly funded resources. The global reach and increasing speed and bandwidth of the Internet; the decreasing cost of hardware and near zero costs of digital storage, copying and distribution; open licensing, and the popularity of mobile devices is making accessibility to digital content universally possible. When policy makers understand the power of open policies, they can avoid the lock-in of stale frameworks and existing financial models, so they can maximize the positive societal impact of publicly funded resources.

Mission

The mission of the Open Policy Network is to foster the creation, adoption and implementation of open policies and practices that advance the public good by supporting open policy advocates, organizations and policy makers, connecting open policy opportunities with assistance, and sharing open policy information.

Guiding principles

The adoption of open policies can maximize the return on public investments and promote a global commons of resources for innovative reuse.

Publicly funded resources should be openly licensed resources.

Open policies should require, as a default, CC BY on publicly funded content and CC0 on publicly funded data, though the OPN recognizes there may be limited exceptions.

The OPN is a open network free for anyone to join as long as they agree to contribute and abide by the mission and guiding principles.

Operational Work Plan

Connect policy makers and other interested parties to expert open policy advocates and organizations who are able to provide assistance and support when open policy opportunities arise.

Identify and build new open policy resources and/or services only where capacity and expertise does not currently exist, by providing needed resources, information and advice.

Provide a baseline level of assistance for open policy opportunities as they arise, to ensure no open policy opportunity goes unfulfilled.

Link to, catalog and curate existing and new open policies and open policy resources from around the world.

Connect open policy advocates and organizations on a listserv and monthly phone conference to maximize knowledge transfer and cooperation.

Build new constituencies and advocates in support of open policies.

Operate in a manner respectful of member organizations’ existing messaging, communities and business models.

Release all content produced by the OPN under CC BY and data under CC0, in a fully transparent manner on the OPN web site.

Release all content produced by the OPN, including the OPN website, under multiple languages.

Governance

The OPN is comprised of expert individuals, organizations and potentially companies who support the OPN’s mission and guiding principles.

Option 1 - Loose coalition

This would be the most nimble framework. Essentially a free-to-join coalition with a listserv and monthly conference calls. Members could choose whether or not to be listed on the OPN website (with relevant contact information). This would primarily be a networking and information sharing structure, and discussion and decisions about the OPN (e.g., funding or mission change) would be made through the listserv and a monthly conference call. One person or organization would be responsible for maintaining a minimal website, open listserv, monthly calls, and routing any unsolicited requests for policy assistance to the appropriate member of the OPN.

+ paid secretariat option

Option 2 - Rotating council

This framework would include most of the activities in Option 1, except a 5-person rotating council, with input from OPN members, would make administrative decisions. The council would provide leadership in directing open policy inquiries, prioritizing OPN activities, assist with fundraising, and setting the agenda for monthly calls. Any OPN member may nominate her/himself or another OPN member to be on the council. Council members will be voted onto the council by OPN members. The council membership would rotate every year with an annual election. Each newly elected council would elect its chair who would serve for a 1-year term. If organizations directly responsible for maintaining the OPN website, open listserv, monthly calls, and/or OPN fundraising are not members of the council, those organizations may choose to have ex-officio seats on the council to keep the council informed of those key activities.

+ paid secretariat option

Paid secretariat option (defined)

This would be the most formal framework and could contain provisions from both Options 1 and/or 2. The secretariat would be a part- or full-time person responsible for most of the administrative duties, and routing of inquiries to relevant groups at the direction of the council. The secretariat could also be tasked with seeking additional funding, developing a research agenda, managing OPN fellows, or other tasks as directed by the council. This option will require immediate funding considerations.

Work Product: OPN services and resources

Advertise through OPN member websites, email listservs, and conferences

Develop model open policies and bills

Develop open policy implementation kits with slides and talking points

Provide as-needed consulting / mentoring / networking

establish pool of expertise across OPN organizations to support:

updating of existing policy frameworks

communication on impact and value of open policy

creation, adoption and implementation of open policies

customization of open policy solutions and strategies

Finding, curating and posting existing open policies / laws

link out to existing open policy sites (e.g., ROARMAP and OER Policy Registry)

Medium-term:

Messaging: media / public relations work

Teach key policy stakeholders about open policies through webinars, keynotes, editorials, conference presentations and School of Open classes

Research: evaluating existing open policies and writing open policy briefs

identify open policy gaps and opportunities within and across countries and sectors

provide support for development of new open policy resources

support global adoption and implementation including translation and localization of resources

OPN fellows program and/or graduate student researchers

OPN meetings / convenings for policy makers

Ongoing recruitment of experts and leaders to join the efforts around open policy, especially in key areas such as OER.

Funding

CC has allocated a small amount of staff time and resources to support the launch phase of the OPN, but more resources will be needed for the OPN to thrive. CC is willing to help explore additional funding, and can act as fiscal agent if useful. Alternatively, CC is happy to partner with other organizations interested in helping to secure funding and managing finances for the OPN.

OPN members / council will also need to discuss how to address advocacy and grassroots / direct lobbying especially with regard to funding restrictions from foundations. It might be helpful to have a pool of unrestricted funds that could be used for lobbying should such an open policy opportunity arise. This should be discussed in detail given the sensitive nature of the topic.